Online Game Environment that Facilitates Sponsorship Contracts

ABSTRACT

A system and method to allow players of a video game to form sponsorship contracts with one another such that a first player can agree, explicitly or implicitly, to provide a second player with an initial playing advantage in return for deferred compensation. The deferred compensation may be based on the second player&#39;s performance in the game.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/355,232, entitled “Online Game Environment thatFacilitates Binding Contracts Between Player Characters” filed February14, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Video games which are accessible to multiple players via a server arewell known. For example, hundreds of thousands of players access gamesknown as massive multi player online games (MMOGs). Players of thesegames customarily access a game repeatedly (for durations typicallyranging from a few minutes to several days) over given period of time,which may be days, weeks, months or even years. The games are oftenconstructed such that players pay a periodic subscription price (e.g.,$15 per month) rather than, or in addition to, paying a one timepurchase price for the game. Often, though not necessarily, these gameshave no ultimate “winner” or “winning goal,” but instead attempt tocreate an enjoyable playing environment and a strong player community.The games are often designed such that advancement in the game is basedon the benefits received from accumulated game play experience, so thatbeginning players have an initial disadvantage compared to moreexperienced players.

It would be advantageous to provide improved methods and apparatus forincreasing the enjoyment and/or longevity of video games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a network according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting a method according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a method according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting a method according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system 100 according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Definitions:

Unless stated to the contrary, for the purposes of the presentdisclosure, the following terms shall have the following definitions:

Credit Card—a credit instrument issued by a real or virtual worldinstitution to a player that allows the player to make purchases byproviding an account identifier (e.g. a credit card number) rather thancash or other currency. An example is a credit card like those issued byVisa, MasterCard, or American Express. For the purposes of the presentdisclosure, the term “Credit card” is intended in a very broad sense andis not limited to those situations in which a player's purchases aremade on credit (i.e. where payments for those purchases is not due untila later time) but also includes financial instruments such as debitcards, check cards, lines of credit and the like.

Virtual credit card—a financial instrument issued in a virtualenvironment that acts in the virtual environment for virtual currencythe way a real world credit card acts in the real world for realcurrency.

Real Cash Value—the value in real dollars of the virtual currency. Thisvalue can be determined by multiplying the value of a virtual currencyamount by the current exchange rate to real dollars.

Total virtual obligation amount-the total amount of the virtualfinancial obligation(s) associated with a player character's account.

Virtual Contract—An enforceable agreement between a first playercharacter and either another player character, a game server, or a thirdparty. Some examples of virtual contracts are provided in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/652,036, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Virtual—shall mean in a video game environment or other intangiblespace.

Virtual World—a world created in an online game such as World ofWarcraft, or a virtual community such as Second Life, Eve or There.com.

Virtual Creditor-shall mean a first player character or other entity whois owed a virtual obligation by a second player character.

Virtual Credit Score—a score given to player characters in a video gamebased on one or more of the following criteria: the virtual assets theypossess, the age of the character account, the type of account, e.g.basic or premium, the available credit line of the credit cardassociated with the account, the existing virtual financial obligationsof the player character account, the player character's payment historyincluding days to pay, amounts overdue or delinquent, and/or the playercharacter's real world credit score, and/or the factors used in the realworld to determine a credit score.

Virtual Financial Account—a virtual account issued to a player characterby a virtual bank, game server or third party where virtual cash can bedeposited and withdrawn.

Virtual Financial Obligation—An agreement by a player character orentity to pay one or more game attributes to another player character,entity or the game server. This obligation can be a one time payment, ormay require multiple payments over time. The obligation may specify whenpayments and/or interest are due.

Virtual Financial Intermediary—Financial intermediaries are institutionsincluding depository institutions, contractual savings institutions, andinvestment intermediaries which offer financial products and servicesfor use within the virtual environment. The various financialintermediaries available in the virtual environment may each servedifferent or overlapping purposes and provide means for using, saving,borrowing and transferring currency.

Virtual Financial Obligation Value—the in game value of the obligation.For virtual cash the value may be stated as a virtual and/or real cashamount. For other game attributes, the value can be determined bygenerating a virtual cash market value for the item based on the currentvalue in an online marketplace or exchange. The value of the obligationmay be fixed or variable and may also be set as a condition of theplayer contract and/or by the game server or other entity.

Billing Information—shall mean any information pertaining to billing aplayer for playing a game, accessing a game, purchasing goods orservices, or any other reasons. Billing information may include suchreal world information as a billing address, credit card account number,bank account number, pay pal account number or other paymentfacilitator, or the account number of any other financial entityproviding a real world credit line or any other payment-relatedinformation.

Character or “player character”—a persona created and controlled by aplayer in a video game.

Avatar—the virtual representation of a player character.

Character Account—an account that tracks character attributes.

Character Attribute—any quality, trait, feature or characteristic aparticular Character can have that is stored in the correspondingCharacter Account. Character Attributes may include, but are not belimited to:

-   -   1. A character score    -   2. A virtual object    -   3. The physical appearance of a character    -   4. An emblem or mark    -   5. A synthetic voice    -   6. Virtual currency    -   7. Virtual help points or credits    -   8. The ability to join groups of other players at a later time    -   9. A score for subsequent matching of later game parameters    -   10. A relationship with another character    -   11. A genetic profile or makeup    -   12. A skill or skill level    -   13. A ranking

Character Life—a fixed or variable, finite or infinite period of virtualor real world time that a player character can exist in a gameenvironment.

Character Skills—game attributes inherent in or acquired by a playercharacter during game play such as, but not limited to: the ability tocast (certain) spells, foretell the future, read minds, use (certain)weapons, cook, hunt, find herbs, assemble herbs into potions, mine,assemble objects into other objects, fly, and/or enchant other playercharacters.

Computer Generated (CGC) or Non-Player (NPC) Character—any characterthat is controlled by the game system and/or a computer program and/orrules established by the game system and/or a player and not by a playeron a continuous basis.

Game performance parameter—any aspect of a Video Game by which a playercharacter's performance can be measured. Game Parameters shall include,but not be limited to:

-   -   1. Completing all or part of a mission    -   2. Playing for a certain period of time    -   3. Winning a match against another player character or computer        generated character    -   4. Reaching a certain level or score    -   5. using or obtaining an ability or technology    -   6. kill/death ratios    -   7. obtaining, creating or modifying an object    -   8. solving a puzzle    -   9. accuracy with weapons    -   10. effective use of the proper weapon    -   11. killing a certain character/creature    -   12. getting through or to a certain geographic area    -   13. decreasing or increasing Karma Points    -   14. getting, buying, exchanging or learning a new skill or        player attribute    -   15. having a child    -   16. getting married    -   17. obtaining, buying, trading, producing or developing raw        materials    -   18. producing goods or services    -   19. earning income    -   20. earning a higher rank in an army    -   21. winning an election among two or more player characters    -   22. achieving deity or other status    -   23. improving player character status or caste    -   24. assisting other player characters with any of the above    -   25. speed of accomplishing or changing the rate or trends of any        or all of the above.

In-game Marketplace—shall mean a virtual environment where Characterscan exchange items, attributes, or any other exchangeable game element.

Novice Player—shall mean a player that is identified as requiring thehelp of an expert to complete a Game Parameter.

Player—shall mean an individual who can register an account with a VideoGame Central Server or within a peer-to-peer network and createCharacters that can interact with other Characters in a VirtualEnvironment, and/or that can authorize a NPC to act on the player'sbehalf.

Player Account—shall mean an account on the Video Game Central Server orwithin a peer-to-peer network that contains a Player profile includingpersonal, billing, and character account information.

Player Attribute—shall mean any attribute that can be applied to aplayer account. Player Attributes shall include, but not be limited to:

-   -   1. Real Currency.    -   2. Discount of monthly fees for playing game.    -   3. Monthly fee for playing a game.    -   4. Interest rates for use of or borrowing real or virtual cash        amounts.    -   5. Global character attribute settings for all characters        created by player across multiple games.    -   6. Rewards for encouraging another player to signup to play.

Player to Player Contract—a real and/or virtual but binding contractbetween player characters that allows the players to provide or exchangegame attributes to one another. Once a player-to-player contract isestablished, the game server or peer-to-peer network automaticallydistributes acquired game attributes between the player characters basedon the contract conditions.

Video Game—a game played on a Video Game Consul that may or may not benetworked to a Video Game Central Server or within a peer-to-peernetwork.

Video Game Consul—a device comprising a CPU, memory and optionalpermanent storage residing at a player location that can allow for theplaying of video games. Examples include, home PCs, Microsoft Xbox, andSony Playstation.

Video Game Central Server—a CPU, memory and permanent or temporarystorage that is connected to multiple Video Game Consuls that allows forMassive Multi Player Online Video Games to be played.

“Game Environment”—includes the concepts of a virtual world, a regionwithin a virtual world, and/or a sub-region with a virtual world.Accordingly, the term “game environment” may refer to an entire virtualcommunity or a sub-set thereof. The term “game environment” may also beused to refer to an instance of a virtual world that is controlled byone or more servers working together.

“Regional Game Environment”—a region or sub-region with a virtual worldor community such as a particular level or area within the virtualworld/community. Accordingly, a regional game environment may haverules, regulations, currency/(ies), government(s), assets, etc., thatare the same or different from other regional game environments in thesame or different game environments.

The term “variation” of an invention means an embodiment of theinvention, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does notimply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with anotherembodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referencedembodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “consisting of” and variations thereof mean “including andlimited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The term “herein” means “in this patent application, including anythingwhich may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality ofthings (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination ofone or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. Forexample, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” meanseither (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car,(v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, acar and a wheel.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describesboth “based only on” and “based at least on”.

The term “represent” and like terms are not exclusive, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. For example, the term “represents” does not mean“represents only”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words,the phrase “the data represents a credit card number” describes both“the data represents only a credit card number” and “the data representsa credit card number and the data also represents something else”.

The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other setof words that express only the intended result, objective or consequenceof something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when theterm “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other words that theterm “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations ofthe claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

The term “e.g.” and like terms means “for example”, and thus does notlimit the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “thecomputer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure) over theInternet”, the term “e.g.” explains that “instructions” are an exampleof “data” that the computer may send over the Internet, and alsoexplains that “a data structure” is an example of “data” that thecomputer may send over the Internet. However, both “instructions” and “adata structure” are merely examples of “data”, and other things besides“instructions” and “a data structure” can be “data”.

The term “determining” and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., todetermine a price, determining a value, determine an object which meetsa certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense. The term“determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and therefore“determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving,investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database oranother data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining”can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g.,accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” caninclude resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like. Itdoes not imply certainty or absolute precision, and does not imply thatmathematical processing, numerical methods or an algorithm process beused. Therefore “determining” can include estimating, predicting,guessing and the like.

It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that thevarious processes described herein may be implemented by, e.g.,appropriately programmed general purpose computers and computingdevices. Typically a processor (e.g., one or more microprocessors, oneor more microcontrollers, one or more digital signal processors) willreceive instructions (e.g., from a memory or like device), and executethose instructions, thereby performing one or more processes defined bythose instructions.

A “processor” means one or more microprocessors, central processingunits (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors, or like devices or any combination thereof. Thus adescription of a process is likewise a description of an apparatus forperforming the process. The apparatus can include, e.g., a processor andthose input devices and output devices that are appropriate to performthe method. Further, programs that implement such methods (as well asother types of data) may be stored and transmitted using a variety ofmedia (e.g., computer readable media) in a number of manners. In someembodiments, hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used inplace of, or in combination with, some or all of the softwareinstructions that can implement the processes of various embodiments.Thus, various combinations of hardware and software may be used insteadof software only.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium thatparticipates in providing data (e.g., instructions, data structures)which may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such amedium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatilemedia, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile mediainclude, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistentmemory. Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM),which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media includecoaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires thatcomprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media mayinclude or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagneticemissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) andinfrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readablemedia include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any otheroptical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium withpatterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any othermemory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, orany other medium from which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingdata (e.g. sequences of instructions) to a processor. For example, datamay be (i) delivered from RAM to a processor; (ii) carried over awireless transmission medium; (iii) formatted and/or transmittedaccording to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Ethernet(or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth™, and TCP/IP, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G;and/or (iv) encrypted to ensure privacy or prevent fraud in any of avariety of ways well known in the art.

Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of acomputer-readable medium storing a program for performing the process.The computer-readable medium can store (in any appropriate format) thoseprogram elements which are appropriate to perform the method.

Just as the description of various steps in a process does not indicatethat all the described steps are required, embodiments of an apparatusinclude a computer/computing device operable to perform some (but notnecessarily all) of the described process.

Likewise, just as the description of various steps in a process does notindicate that all the described steps are required, embodiments of acomputer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include acomputer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, cancause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of thedescribed process.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations ordescriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrativearrangements for stored representations of information. Any number ofother arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g.,tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustratedentries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content ofthe entries can be different from those described herein. Further,despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats(including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributeddatabases) are well known and could be used to store and manipulate thedata types described herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of adatabase can be used to implement various processes, such as thedescribed herein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, bestored locally or remotely from any device(s) which access data in thedatabase.

Various embodiments can be configured to work in a network environmentincluding a computer that is in communication (e.g., via acommunications network) with one or more devices. The computer maycommunicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via any wired orwireless medium (e.g. the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, atelephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communicationsline, commercial on-line service providers, bulletin board systems, asatellite communications link, a combination of any of the above). Eachof the devices may themselves comprise computers or other computingdevices, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® or Centrino™processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer. Any numberand type of devices may be in communication with the computer.

DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, a server computer or centralized authority may not benecessary or desirable. For example, the present invention may, in anembodiment, be practiced on one or more devices without a centralauthority. In such an embodiment, any functions described herein asperformed by the server computer or data described as stored on theserver computer may instead be performed by or stored on one or moresuch devices.

The present disclosure provides improved methods and apparatus for videogames. In general, various embodiments of the invention allow forplayers of a video game to form sponsorship contracts with one anothersuch that a first player can agree, explicitly or implicitly, to providea second player with an initial playing advantage in return for deferredcompensation. The deferred compensation may be based on the secondplayer's performance in the game.

Referring to FIG. 1, a network according to one embodiment includes acentral server 12 in communication with a plurality of video gameplaying units 14. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat any number of video game playing units may be in communication withthe central server. Typically the number of video game playing unitschanges at various times as players join games and as players stopplaying games. Similarly, more than one server may operate to coordinatethe activities of the video game playing units, as is well known in theart.

Central server 12 may comprise any computing device (e.g., one or morecomputers) capable of communicating with other computing devices. Theserver 12 typically comprises a processor which is in communication witha storage device, such as an appropriate combination of RAM, ROM, harddisk, and other well known storage media. Central server 12 may compriseone or more personal computers, web servers, dedicated game servers,video game consoles, any combination of the foregoing, or the like.

Each video game device 14 may comprise any device capable ofcommunicating with central server 12, providing video game informationto a player, and transmitting the player's desired actions to thecentral server. Each video game device typically comprises a processorwhich is in communication with a storage device, such as an appropriatecombination of RAM, ROM, hard disk, and other well known storage media.Suitable video game devices include, but are not limited to, personalcomputers, video game consoles, mobile phones, and personal dataassistants (PDAs).

Some or all of video game 16 can be stored on central server 16.Alternatively, some or all of video game 16 may be stored on theindividual video game devices 14. Typically, the video game devices areable to communicate with one another. Such communication may or may notbe facilitated by central server 12. Accordingly, a player 18 aaccessing video game 16 via game device 14 a may be able to play with aplayer 18 b accessing video game 16 via game device 14 b . As shown, itmay be possible for multiple players (e.g. 16c, 16d) to access centralserver 12 via the same game device (e.g. 14 c ).

Regardless of whether video game 16 is stored on central server 12 orvideo game devices 14, server 12 is typically configured to facilitateplay of the game between multiple game players. According to oneembodiment, central server 12 is further configured to facilitate theformation and management of sponsorship contracts between two or moreplayers.

According to the present disclosure, a sponsorship contract is anagreement between two or more players where one player, the “sponsor,”agrees to provide (e.g., upon formation of the agreement, at apredetermined time before or after formation of the agreement, at anagreed-upon time before or after formation of the agreement) an initialbenefit, or advantage, to another player, the “sponsoree.” In return forproviding the initial benefit to the sponsoree, the sponsor receives adeferred benefit that is based on the sponsoree's performance in thegame. It will be understood that according to some embodiments asponsorship contract may have more than one sponsor and/or more than onesponsoree, and the same or different benefits may be provided.

Generally, a player is the person who buys the game and sets up a playeraccount. A player character is a persona created by a player to interactin the game environment. For the sake of simplicity the terms player andplayer character are used interchangeably in the present disclosure.However, it should be understood that a player may create and controlone or more characters and each character may enter into one or moresponsorship contracts with other player characters. Accordingly, in someembodiments, two characters owned by the same player may enter into asponsorship contract with each other.

According to another embodiment, sponsorship information may bemaintained in a database. Table I, below, shows a non-limiting exampleof the type of information that could be included in a sponsorshipcontract database. Sponsorship information may include any informationrelated to past, present, or future sponsorship contracts. For example,the database may include information regarding the terms of a givencontract, whether a given player is currently a party to a sponsorshipcontract, whether a given player is a sponsor or a sponsoree in a givencontract, and/or whether a given player has indicated interest inentering into a sponsorship contract.

TABLE I Contract Number 3254 3255 3256 Sponsoree (unfilled) XXCD23344XXYY24428 Sponsor XYZ234567 XYZ234567 XYXY33612 Status Pending ExpiredActive Listing Date Jan. 01, 2006 Mar. 14, 2004 May 10, 2005 CreationDate NA Mar. 15, 2004 Jun. 20, 2005 Expiration Date NA Mar. 15, 2005 NASponsoree 400 Experience 2 Helpers Will show secret Benefit 1 ptspassageway Sponsoree 1 Storage Unit 1 Plot of land One healing spellBenefit 2 Sponsoree $500 One status bar One weapon Benefit N SponsorBenefit 1 2% of Experience 10% of $ All health points pts to Level 6over 90% Sponsor Benefit 2 All Linen 10% of stamina An item to bePilferred named once Level 8 reached

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, each sponsorship contract may beassigned a unique identifier such as a number or a sequence ofalphanumeric characters. For each contract identifier, the databaselinks the sponsor(s), if any, the sponsoree(s), if any, the contractstatus, the date the request for a contract was listed, the date thecontract was created, and the date the contract expires. As shown, thedatabase may also include the terms of the contracts, i.e. what benefitswere promised to the sponsor and sponsoree.

The database typically stores a unique identifier for each player. Theunique identifier could be the player's name, a username (e.g.,specified by the player), a phone number, a social security number, acombination of the foregoing, etc. In the example above, the uniqueidentifier is a license key number associated with the game licensepurchased by the player. The unique identifier may be used to linkmultiple databases related to the same player, as described in greaterdetail below.

In the database shown above, contracts can have a status of active,expired or pending. As used in the current disclosure, the term “active”is intended to mean a contract which has not expired and to which thereis both an assigned sponsor and an assigned sponsoree. As used in thecurrent disclosure, the term “expired” is intended to mean a contractwhich has been cancelled, has been found invalid, or for which theexpiration date has passed, regardless of whether both a sponsor andsponsoree have been assigned. As used in the current disclosure, theterm “pending” is intended to mean an unexpired contract that lacks anassigned sponsor, sponsoree, or both.

Some or all of the information in the sponsorship database may beviewable to game players. According to one embodiment, the sponsorshipdatabase may be part of an online forum on which players can browsecurrent pending, active, and/or expired contracts. Players may use theforum to advertise themselves as available for sponsorship, find asponsor or sponsoree, or help them get ideas for contract terms.

According to one embodiment, two or more players may simply decidebetween themselves to form a sponsorship contract and then inform theserver of the parties to the contract and the terms thereof.

Alternatively or additionally, the server can take a more active role incontract formation. The server may be configured to receive, from aplayer, a request to form a sponsorship contract. The request mayinclude or specify contract formation requirements. For example, therequest can include data indicating whether the player wishes to be asponsor or sponsoree. The request may further include specific contractterms or a specifically requested sponsor/sponsoree. The server may thensearch the contract database to find a potential sponsor/sponsoree thatfulfills the requestor's requirements. If such a potentialsponsor/sponsoree is found, the contract may be automatically formed.Alternatively, the potential sponsor/sponsoree may be notified that asponsorship contract has been offered to them and the sponsor/sponsoreemay chose to accept or deny the contract request.

As a further alternative or addition, the server may be configured toconduct an auction during which players bid for the right to become aparty to a sponsorship contract. In this case, the act of bidding actsessentially as a sponsorship request from the bidding player. Theauction may be conducted in a manner such that players submit offers(e.g., including an amount of payment) for the right to become a memberto the sponsorship contract. For example, Player A may submit a requestto become a sponsoree. Player A may be known among various players inthe relevant gaming world as a very competent and successful player.Player A might be known by “word-of-mouth” reputation, or by experienceswith others who have played with Player A. The server may also providedetails of Player A's historical play. For example, upon request theserver may provide details of Player A's past scores, duration of play,opponents killed, opponents saved, past information on Player A as asponsoree, and the like. Accordingly, many players may want to be PlayerA's sponsor, believing they are likely to have a positive return ontheir “investment”. Each player who wants to be Player A's sponsor maythen submit a bid to the server. According to one embodiment, the servermay automatically select the winning bidder according to a set ofpredetermined criteria intended to identify the offer that is mostadvantageous to the sponsoree. For example, initial benefits may belimited to monetary contributions. As such, the server may be configuredto automatically select the player offering the highest amount of moneyas the winner. Alternatively, the bids could be forwarded to Player A,and Player A may select the winning bid.

A similar scenario could be envisioned for a highly desirable sponsor.For example, Player B may submit a request to become a sponsor. Player Bmay have a reputation for being a great sponsor, or may be offering avery advantageous initial benefit. Player B might be known by“word-of-mouth” reputation, or by experiences with others who haveplayed with or been sponsored by Player B. The server may also providedetails of Player B's historical play. For example, upon request theserver may provide details of Player B's past scores, duration of play,opponents killed, opponents saved, past information on Player B as asponsor, and the like. Each player who wants to be Player B's sponsoreemay then submit a bid to the server. According to one embodiment, theserver may automatically select the winning bidder according to a set ofpredetermined criteria intended to identify the offer that is mostadvantageous to the sponsor. For example, deferred benefits may belimited to periodic monetary contributions based on the sponsoree'sfixed earnings. As such, the server may be configured to automaticallyselect the player offering the highest percentage of earnings.Alternatively, the bids could be forwarded to Player B, and Player Bcould select the winning bid.

According to a further embodiment, the initial benefit to the sponsoreemay be held in escrow and released to a sponsoree once the contract isaccepted. If no sponsoree accepts the contract, the item may be releasedback to the sponsor. Accordingly, server 12 may be configured to holdthe initial benefit in an email message which, if the contract isaccepted, is sent to the sponsoree's character account. If the contractis not accepted, the initial benefit may be sent back to the sponsor'scharacter account.

The formation of a sponsorship contract may be governed by specificrestrictions or prerequisites that must be fulfilled before the contractcan become active. These prerequisites may be created by one or more ofthe players entering into the contract or by the rules of the game. Anexample of a suitable prerequisite is the requirement that a request toenter into a contract be received during a specific time frame. Forexample, a particular pending contract may expire on a given date.Accordingly, a player wishing to enter into that contract must make arequest prior to the expiration date. Alternatively, a player mayspecify that he or she will only entertain sponsorship requests onTuesdays or on a specific date, e.g. December 10th, or on a specificholiday, e.g. Veteran's Day or April Fool's Day. Additionalprerequisites may include, but are not limited to, having a sponsor gameaccount, having previously been a sponsoree, or having previously been asponsor.

Accordingly, server 12 may be operable to determine whether a player hasfulfilled the prerequisite requirements and create an active sponsorshipagreement upon the determination that the player has fulfilled therequirements.

A further example of a suitable prerequisite is a list of one or moregame criteria that must be met by a player before the player can enterinto a given sponsorship contract. Suitable game criteria prerequisitesinclude, but are not limited to, attainment of a predetermined level inthe game, attainment of a predetermined number of items, attainment of apredetermined item, attainment of a given amount of currency, amount oftime spent playing the game, number of experience points accumulated inthe game and the like.

As stated above, a sponsorship contract is an agreement between two ormore players where a sponsor agrees to provide an initial benefit to asponsoree in return for a deferred benefit. The initial benefit providedto the sponsoree may take the form of any game element which improvesthe sponsoree's likelihood of success in the game over that of anon-sponsored player who is otherwise equal to the sponsoree in allrespects other than sponsorship status. For example, in a game whereplayers are able to purchase items or otherwise give up any form ofcurrency for items, the initial benefit may take the form of givenamount of appropriate game currency. It will be understood that for thepurposes of the present disclosure, the term “item” is used in thebroadest possible sense and includes, but it not limited to, objects(e.g. weapons, charms, spells armor), skills, abilities, information,etc. Other examples of initial benefits include, but are not limited to,items or game strategy.

According to some embodiments, the initial benefit to the sponsoree mayalternatively be referred to as an initial detriment to the sponsor. Forexample, an initial detriment to the sponsor may take place when thesponsor shares with or gives to the sponsoree an item which would haveprovided a benefit to the sponsor had the sponsor not shared it or givenit away. As a specific, non-limiting example, the sponsor receives aninitial detriment when the initial benefit to the sponsoree takes theform of something which is transferred from the sponsor's exclusiveownership and/or control to the sponsoree's exclusive ownership and/orcontrol.

As stated above, according to the sponsorship contract, in return forreceiving the initial benefit, the sponsoree agrees that the sponsorwill receive a deferred benefit that is based on the sponsoree'sperformance in the game. The deferred benefit may be provided as aplurality of benefits distributed periodically to the sponsor, this maybe referred to as a “periodic benefit.”

According to one embodiment, a player who successfully completes one ormore predetermined requirements may earn rewards, or spoils. A giventask may include, for example, finding an item, killing an enemy,spending a certain amount of time in the game, solving a puzzle, or thelike. The rewards earned for completing the task may include, forexample, an item, currency, increased skill level, increased strength,access to new areas of the game, or the like. Accordingly, the servermay be configured to bestow rewards to a player upon determining thatthe player has successfully completed one or more predeterminedrequirements.

According to some embodiments, the periodic benefit distributed to thesponsor represents a portion of the rewards earned by the sponsoree. Thedistributed portion may be a percentage of the reward earned, if thereward is apportionable. Apportionable rewards may include, for exampleand without limitation, currency and point-based items, such asexperience points, health points, etc. In cases where the reward earnedby the sponsoree is non-apportionable, an appropriate alternate benefitmay be provided to the sponsor. For example, if the sponsoree receivesan item as a reward, the sponsor may be given the item, the right totake or borrow the item, or a benefit that is not the item, such ascurrency, experience points, health points, or the like. Alternatively,the benefit to the sponsor may take the form of a discount on thesubscription price the sponsor is required to pay in order to gaincontinued access to the game. It will be appreciated that the number andtype of appropriate benefit that could be provided to the sponsor isnearly limitless. It should further be appreciated that many suchbenefits are game-dependant and that such benefits, while notspecifically described, are considered to be part of the presentdisclosure.

It will be appreciated that the benefit that is provided to the sponsormay represent a negative benefit or detriment to the sponsoree. Forexample, the sponsoree may, in various manners, earn 50 health points,but the terms of the sponsorship agreement may require the sponsoree toforfeit 10% of any health points earned to the sponsor. Thus, thesponsoree, in effect, loses 5 (10% of 50) health points for being aparty to the sponsorship agreement.

Moreover, according to another embodiment, the sponsor may receive anegative benefit for poor performance on the part of the sponsoree. Forexample, if a sponsoree loses currency or points by failing to completea task, e.g. by being injured or killed in a fight, the sponsor mayshare in the loss by also losing currency or points.

Accordingly, the server may be configured to calculate and allocate theperiodic benefit (positive and/or negative) to the sponsor. Server 12may be configured to maintain a player session database in order totrack a player's progress through the game and allocate benefitsaccordingly. The information from the player session database can becross referenced with the contract requirements stored in thesponsorship database in order to calculate any benefits due to thecontracting parties and determine how benefits should be allocated.Table II, below, depicts a non-limiting example of the type of data thatmight be maintained in a player session database.

TABLE II Session Number 123565 123566 Player Number XYZ245678 XXCD23344Session date 1/12/05 16:45–19:45 1/12/05 17:00–18:00 Session time 3Hours 1 Hour Session Wealth 32 gold 15 gold Session Experience 245points 34 points Session Item 1 1 linen 1 linen Session Item 2 Magicpotion Sword Session Item N Broad sword Leather hat

The calculation and/or allocation of benefits may be conducted in realtime, as the sponsoree is playing. In this case, each time a sponsoreeearns (or loses) a reward, a sponsor benefit (positive or negative) iscalculated. The benefit may then be allocated immediately to the sponsoror allocated at a later time.

Alternatively, the calculation and/or allocation may be conducted atregular or irregular intervals, or upon occurrence of predeterminedevents. For example, the net total rewards earned (or lost) by thesponsoree during a sponsoree's player session may be identified at theend of the session and the sponsor's benefit calculated based on the nettotal. The sponsor's benefit may then be distributed to the sponsorimmediately upon calculation of the benefit or at a later time.

According to one embodiment, whether or not benefits are transferred tothe sponsor in real time is dependant upon one or more predeterminedconditions. The predetermined conditions may comprise, for example, thegame parameters in which the sponsor is currently playing, the gameparameters in which the sponsoree is currently playing, the gameenvironment in which the sponsor is playing, the game environment inwhich the sponsoree is playing, or any combination thereof. As anon-limiting example, a real time benefit may only be transferred to thesponsor if the sponsor and/or the sponsoree are in a certain game state,such as a battle or mission.

Each player may be associated with a player account. Player accountinformation may be maintained (e.g., by the server) in a registeredplayer database. Table III, below, depicts a non-limiting example of thetype of data that might be maintained in a registered player database.

TABLE III License Key Number XYZ2345678 XXCD23344 Player Name Jack SmithJane Doe Player Address 12 Anywhere St. 15 Anywhere St. Sometown, USASometown, USA Credit Card Number 1111-1111-1111-1111 1111-1111-1111-1112Date Registered Jan. 11, 2003 Mar. 15, 2004 Date Game Installed Jan. 9,2003 Mar. 9, 2004 Account Type Sponsor Regular Monthly Usage Fee 19.9512.95 Character Experience 13578 890 Level (pts) Character Wealth$10,000 $4000 Items 1 Broad sword Felt hat

Once calculated and distributed, earned rewards and allocated benefitsmay be reflected in the player's player accounts. For example, JackSmith, above, may be a sponsor for player C. If player C earns $500during a playing session, and the sponsorship agreement between Jack andplayer C states that Jack is to receive 10% of player C's earnings,Jack's player account will be credited with an additional $50 incharacter wealth. This credit may be reflected immediately, even if Jackis not logged onto the game server. Alternatively, the credit may beposted upon Jack logging into the server or after completion of acertain predetermined event, e.g. benefits may be allocated every day atnoon, or once a month after a player pays his or her monthly usage fee.

As shown, the player account may also include information regarding themonthly usage fee, or subscription price paid by the player. As shown,the subscription price may differ from player to player. According toone embodiment, players may choose between a player account that allowsthem to enter into sponsorship agreements, the “sponsor” account type,and a player account that does not allow them to enter into sponsorshipagreements, the “regular” account type. In the example shown above,players who opt for the sponsor account type pay a higher usage fee thanplayers who opt for the regular account type. Alternatively, players whoopt for a sponsor account could pay a lower usage fee than players whoopt for the regular account type. Moreover, some or all of the usage feecould be based on the player's sponsorship status. For example, theusage fee could be increased (or decreased) if the player is a sponsoror sponsoree.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a server configured toreceive a player's registration request. The server may further receivea player's account information. The server may then offer the player hisor her choice of a regular account or a sponsor account and receive theplayer's response to the offer. The server may then retrieve theappropriate price of the account type that is dictated by the accounttype selected by the player. The account price may then be stored on theserver. Alternatively, the information may be stored on the player'sgame device.

It will be appreciated that while, for the sake of discussion, thesponsorship database, player session database, and registered playerdatabase are described separately, the data in these and any othersuitable databases could be merged into a single large database and/ormaintained separately in additional databases, or in other structuresbesides a database. Moreover, any such databases could be independent orlinked, and the data in these databases could be stored centrally onserver 12 or separately on game devices 14.

According to yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides aserver that is operable to provide a video game that is accessible by aplurality of players, receive session data from a first player having aplayer account, and determine if the player is a sponsoree in an activesponsor agreement. If the sponsoree is in an active sponsor agreement,the server is operable to retrieve the conditions of the sponsoragreement, apply the conditions of the sponsor agreement to the sessiondata, and adjust the sponsoree's playing account. The server may befurther operable to identify the sponsor in the sponsor agreement andadjust the sponsor's playing account in accordance with the sponsoragreement.

In yet another embodiment, each sponsorship contract may have a contractvalue. The contract value may be based, for example, on the sponsor'sexpected earnings from the sponsoree, based on the sponsoree's pastperformance and the actual earnings received from other, similarlypositioned, sponsorees. The contract value may be calculatedperiodically and the calculated values tracked over time. Accordingly,server 12 may be configured to calculate and/or track a contract valuefor active sponsorship contracts. This information could then be storedin the sponsorship database or any other suitable database. Furthermore,the contract value information could be made available to thecontracting parties, players having sponsor game accounts, or to thegame playing community as a whole.

In a further embodiment, a player may be able to buy and sell activesponsorship contracts to which he or she is a party, or contracts towhich he or she is not a party. The sale price of an active sponsorshipcontract may be based on the contract value. Alternatively, a biddingsystem may be used similar to that described earlier with respect to theformation of sponsorship contracts. Other systems may be provided forselling and offering for sale such contracts. In addition, the saleprice of an active sponsorship contract may be dependent upon the statusof the purchaser. For example, if the purchaser is the sponsoree in thesponsorship contract, and the sponsoree wishes to buy out the contract,the purchase price for the sponsoree (i.e. the “buy out price”) may bedifferent, higher or lower, than that offered to a third-partypurchaser.

In accordance with the above description, the present disclosure alsoprovides methods for playing video games incorporating elements of thesystem described above.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting a method according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2 the method comprisesproviding a video game that is accessible to a plurality of gameplayers. As described in greater detail above, the video game may belocated on a central server that is accessible to the plurality ofplayers via a plurality of game devices. Alternatively, the video gamemay be located on one or more of the video game devices. The methodfurther comprises identifying a first game player as desirous ofbecoming a sponsor and identifying a second game player as becoming asponsoree. As described above, the players may identify themselves bysubmitting a sponsorship request to a server including any contractterms or requirements they desire. Alternatively, players may identifythemselves by posting an ad in a game-related forum or chat room or inany other suitable manner. The method further comprises the steps offorming a sponsorship contract between the first and second player,identifying the first player as a sponsor, and identifying the secondplayer as a sponsoree. The method further comprises providing an initialbenefit to the sponsoree. The method further comprises allocating one ormore deferred benefits to the sponsor based on the contract and on thesponsoree's performance in play of the game.

According to one embodiment, the method shown in FIG. 2 may furthercomprise monitoring the game play of the sponsor and sponsoree andaltering the game accounts of the sponsor and sponsoree according to theterms of the sponsorship contract. Some or all of the terms of thecontracts may be provided by one or more parties to the contract priorto entering into the contract. Alternatively, or additionally, contractsmay be available in which some or all of the contract terms are dictatedby the rules of the game or the server. As a further alternative some orall of the contract terms may be provided by players who are not partiesto the contract.

The performance by the sponsoree that triggers payment of a deferredbenefit to the sponsor may be any suitable performance in the game.Examples of suitable payment triggers include, but are not limited to,accessing a new or more difficult level or area of the game, theaccumulation of a predetermined amount of game time, the accumulation ofone or more items, the accumulation of a given amount of wealth, theaccumulation of a given amount or level of health or experience points,etc.

According to another embodiment, the method shown in FIG. 2 may furthercomprise determining whether the first player has met one or morerequirements before forming the sponsorship contract. Suitablerequirements may include, but are not limited to, attainment of apredetermined level in the game, attainment of a given amount of gamecurrency, and/or attainment of a given item. For example, a player mayhave to reach level 5, accumulate $5000 cash, and/or obtain certainweapons before being eligible to be another player's sponsor.Furthermore, some or all of the requirements may be dependant upon theposition of the other party to the sponsorship agreement. For example, asponsor may be required to be 3 levels higher, have 10 times as muchwealth, or have 200 hours more playing time, than his or her sponsoree.

According to another embodiment, the method shown in FIG. 2 may furthercomprise creating a sponsorship database. The sponsorship database mayinclude sponsorship status identifiers for one or more game players. Thesponsorship status identifiers may indicate, for example, whether theidentified player is a sponsor, sponsoree, desirous of becoming asponsor, or desirous of becoming a sponsoree. Accordingly, the methodshown in FIG. 2 may further comprise altering the sponsorship statusidentifier of a player upon the occurrence of a sponsorship eventaffecting the player. Suitable sponsorship events may include, withoutlimitation, the formation of a new sponsorship contract to which theplayer is a party, the dissolution of a sponsorship contract to whichthe player is a party, receipt of a sponsorship request, or the offeringof a sponsorship request. The sponsorship database may further includerequirements and prerequisites for entering into a sponsorship contractwith a given player.

According to another embodiment, the method shown in FIG. 2 may furthercomprise providing a forum for players to view at least some of theinformation in the sponsorship database. The forum may take the form ofa virtual marketplace through which players can view pending, expiredand/or active sponsorship contracts.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a method according to another embodimentof the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the method comprisesproviding a video game accessible by a plurality of players. Again, asdescribed in greater detail above, the video game may be located on acentral server that is accessible to the plurality of players via aplurality of game devices. Alternatively, the video game may be locatedon one or more of the video game devices. The method further comprisesforming a sponsorship contract between a sponsor and a sponsoree.Methods for forming a sponsorship contract are described in detailabove. The method further comprises the steps of providing an initialbenefit to the sponsoree, providing an initial detriment to the sponsor,and providing a periodic benefit to the sponsor based on the sponsorshipcontract and the sponsoree's performance in the game.

The method shown in FIG. 3 may further comprise allowing another playerto replace the sponsor or sponsoree in the sponsorship contract uponfulfillment of a condition. The condition may be, for example, paymentof a contract price, if the purchaser is not already a party to thecontract. One or both parties to the contract may or may not be allowedto reject the purchase. As non-limiting examples, the contract price maybe determined by the game server, by the game rules, by the parties tothe contract, or by an auction-style bidding system. Alternatively, thecondition may be, for example, payment of a buyout price, if thepurchaser is currently a party to the current contract. For example, thesponsoree may be able to terminate the sponsorship contract by payingthe buyout price to the sponsor. The sponsor may or may not be allowedto reject the purchase. If an auction-style bidding system is used, theserver may be configured to identify the winning bidder. Alternatively,the bids may be submitted to one or more parties to the contract and oneor more of the parties may select the winning bid.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting a method according to another embodimentof the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4 the method comprisesaccessing a video game. The video game may be stored on a central serverand accessible via a game device in electronic communication with thecentral server. Alternatively, the video game may be stored on the videogame device and the central server may facilitate game play and playerto player interactions. The method further comprises identifying aseither a sponsor or a sponsoree. Methods for players to identifythemselves as either a sponsor or sponsoree are described in detailabove. The method further comprises requesting formation of asponsorship contract with another player. This request may be submitted,for example, to the central server and may be made with or without theknowledge of the other player. The method further comprises enteringinto a sponsorship agreement with another player and either: receivingan initial benefit upon entering into the sponsorship agreement andreceiving a periodic detriment during the course of the game; or,receiving an initial detriment upon entering into the sponsorshipagreement and receiving a periodic benefit during the course of thegame. The methods and consequences of receiving benefits and detrimentsare described in detail above.

According to another embodiment, the method of FIG. 4 may furthercomprise accessing a database containing information regarding playerswishing to enter into a sponsorship agreement and selecting a playerwith whom to enter into a sponsorship agreement. The step of selecting aplayer may be performed by offering a bid including at least one desiredterm for the sponsorship agreement.

According to another embodiment, the method of FIG. 4 may furthercomprise requesting termination of a sponsorship agreement. The requestto terminate the sponsorship agreement may take the form of an offer topurchase the agreement.

Another method according to another embodiment of the present disclosurecomprises the steps of providing a video game, identifying a first videogame player as desirous of becoming a sponsoree, and receiving bids formother video game players for the right to become a sponsor for the firstplayer. The method may further comprise each bidding player needing tofulfill at least one condition before bidding on the right to become asponsor. The at least one condition may comprise, for example andwithout limitation, ownership of a predetermined amount of wealth oroffering the bid during a given time frame.

According to another embodiment, the disclosure provides a server thatis operable to: communicate with a plurality of game devices, whereineach game device allows at least one respective player to access theserver; facilitate play of a game between the plurality of players;identify a first player as a sponsor; identify a second player as asponsoree; create a contract between the sponsor and the sponsoree;provide, to the sponsoree, an initial benefit from the sponsor based onthe contract; and allocate, to the sponsor, a plurality of periodicbenefits based on the contract and on the sponsoree's performance inplay of the game. The game may, for example be a massive multiplayervideo game. The server may be further operable to receive a sponsorshiprequest from a first player. The server may be further operable toconduct an auction wherein players bid for the right to become a partyto a sponsorship contract. As such, the sponsorship request may be inthe form of a bid during the auction.

The server may be further operable to: maintain a database includingsponsorship information and/or create and maintain a player account foreach player. The player account may include, as a non-limiting example,information regarding the usage fee paid by the player for playing thegame. The server is further operable to alter the usage fee for a playerbased on the player's sponsorship status. Moreover, the server may befurther operable to increase or decrease the usage fee if the player isa sponsor, or increase or decrease the usage fee if the player is asponsoree.

The server may be further operable to identify one or more prerequisitesfor entering into a given sponsorship contract. The prerequisite mayinclude, for example, a timeframe during which a request to enter intothe contract must be received in order for the contract to be accepted,or one or more game criteria that must be met by a player beforeentering into the given sponsorship contract. Non-limiting examples ofgame criteria include: attainment of a predetermined level in the game,attainment of a predetermined number of items, attainment of apredetermined type of item, and/or attainment of a given amount of gamecurrency. Accordingly, the server may be further operable to determinewhether a player has fulfilled the requirements and create thesponsorship contract upon a determination that the player has fulfilledthe requirements.

The server may be further operable to calculate a contract value for anactive sponsorship contract. The contract value may, for example, becalculated periodically. The server may be further operable to track thecontract value over time.

The server may be further operable to facilitate the sale of an activesponsorship contract. According to some embodiments, the contract valuemay, at least in part, be dependent upon the status of the purchaser.Thus, for example, a first contract value may be calculated if thepurchaser is a current party to the contract and a second contract valuemay be calculated if the purchaser is not a current party to thecontract.

In yet another embodiment, the current disclosure provides a methodcomprising: providing a video game accessible to a plurality of gameplayers; identifying a first game player as desirous of becoming asponsor; identifying a second game player as desirous of becoming asponsoree; forming a sponsorship contract between the first and secondplayer; identifying the first player as having a sponsorship status ofsponsor; identifying the second player as having a sponsorship status ofsponsoree; providing an initial benefit to the sponsoree; and allocatingone or more deferred benefits to the sponsor based on the contract andon the sponsoree's performance in play of the game.

According to some embodiments, the performance that triggers a periodicbenefit to the sponsor may be the accumulation of a predetermined amountof game time.

According to a further embodiment, the method may include determiningwhether the first player has met one or more requirements before formingthe sponsorship contract. Non-limiting examples of appropriaterequirements include: attainment of a predetermined level in the game,attainment of a given amount of game currency, and/or attainment of agiven item. Moreover, the predetermined level may be calculated, atleast in part, on the level of the second player.

According to a further embodiment, the method may further comprisecreating a sponsorship database. The sponsorship database may include,for example, sponsorship status identifiers for one or more gameplayers. Moreover, the method may include altering the sponsorshipstatus identifier of a player upon the occurrence of a sponsorship eventaffecting the player. Non-limiting examples of sponsorship eventsinclude: the formation of a new sponsorship contract to which the playeris a party, the dissolution of a sponsorship contract to which theplayer was a party, a sponsorship request offered by the player and/or,a sponsorship request offered to the player. Furthermore, thesponsorship database may include requirements for entering into asponsorship contract with a given player. A forum may be provided forplayers to view at least some of the information in the sponsorshipdatabase.

The method may further provide a virtual marketplace through whichplayers can view unactive sponsorship contracts.

According to another embodiment, the present disclosure may provide amethod comprising: providing a video game accessible to a plurality ofplayers; forming a sponsorship contract between a sponsor and asponsoree; providing an initial benefit to the sponsoree; providing aninitial detriment to the sponsor; and providing a periodic benefit tothe sponsor based on the sponsorship contract and the sponsoree'sperformance in the game.

According to a further embodiment, the method may further comprise oneor more of the steps of: receiving a first offer from a first playerdesirous of becoming the sponsor in the sponsorship contract; receivinga second offer from a second player desirous of becoming the sponsor inthe sponsorship contract; awarding the sponsorship contract to theplayer submitting the offer that is most advantageous to the sponsoree;or allowing the sponsoree to determine to which player the sponsorshipcontract is to be awarded.

According to a further embodiment, the method may further comprise oneor more of the steps of: receiving a first offer from a first playerdesirous of becoming the sponsoree in the sponsorship contract;receiving a second offer form a second player desirous of becoming thesponsoree in the sponsorship contract; awarding the sponsorship contractto the player submitting the offer that is most advantageous to thesponsor; or allowing the sponsor to determine to which player thesponsorship contract is to be awarded.

Another exemplary system 100 is shown in FIG. 5. As shown, the systemmay include a server 12 in communication with a game device or console14, through which a player 18, may access an online video game 16 hostedon the server. Server 12 may further comprise a plurality of databasesand/or modules which facilitate game play. These databases or modulesmay be provided as part of video game 16, or may be provided separately.It will be appreciated that, while shown being hosted on the sameserver, these databases or modules may, in fact, be hosted separately ortogether on any combination of servers and or game consoles. Examples ofsuitable databases and modules include, for example, contracts database102, which may include data related to sponsorship contracts in theonline game environment. Suitable information includes, but is notlimited to information related to the creation, status, terms, parties,etc., associated with any pending, active, or expired contracts. Some orall of the information maintained by the contracts database may beavailable to players. Accordingly, the system may include a contractsdatabase user-interface 104.

As stated above, according to some embodiments, a sponsorship contractis an agreement between two players in which the sponsoree receives aninitial benefit from the sponsor in return for an agreement that thesponsor will receive a plurality of periodic benefits based on the termsof the contract and the sponsoree's performance in play of the game.Accordingly, system 100 may further include a benefit calculation moduleconfigured to identify when a benefit is owed to the sponsor based onthe terms of the contract and provide the bestow the benefit to thesponsor.

System 100 may further include a player database 108, which may trackand maintain information related to player accounts. Examples of thetypes of player account-related information that could be maintained inplayer database 108 is described above and shown in table III.

As stated above, the system may be configured to calculate a value for asponsorship contract and allow for the selling and purchasing ofsponsorship contracts based on the calculated values. Accordingly,system 100 may include a contract value calculation module 110, and acontract market 1 12. If the system allows for auction style sales ofsponsorship contracts, system 100 may further include an auction module114.

CONCLUSION

Of course it will be appreciated that the systems methods describedherein are provided for the purposes of example only and that none ofthe above systems methods should be interpreted as necessarily requiringany of the disclosed components or steps nor should they be interpretedas necessarily excluding any additional components or steps.Furthermore, it will be understood that while various embodiments aredescribed, such embodiments should not be interpreted as being exclusiveof the inclusion of other embodiments or parts of other embodiments.

The invention is described with reference to several embodiments.However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, andthose of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention isreadily applicable to many other diverse embodiments and applications asare reflected in the range of real world financial institutions,instruments and activities. Accordingly, the subject matter of thepresent disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations andsubcombinations of the various systems, methods configurations,embodiments, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein.

Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as wellas more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least onewidget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where ina second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses adefinite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”),this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature,and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of thefeature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than onewidget).

Each claim in a set of claims has a different scope. Therefore, forexample, where a limitation is explicitly recited in a dependent claim,but not explicitly recited in any claim from which the dependent claimdepends (directly or indirectly), that limitation is not to be read intoany claim from which the dependent claim depends.

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) isused as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unlessexpressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature,such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature thatis described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a“first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a“second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and“second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any otherrelationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate anyother characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mereusage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term“widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or afterany other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widgetoccurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does notindicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as inimportance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbersdoes not define a numerical limit to the features identified with theordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers“first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate thatthere must be no more than two widgets.

When a single device or article is described herein, more than onedevice/article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be usedin place of the single device/article that is described. Accordingly,the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device mayalternatively be possessed by more than one device/article (whether ornot they cooperate).

Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein(whether or not they cooperate), a single device/article mayalternatively be used in place of the more than one device or articlethat is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devicesmay be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, thevarious functionality that is described as being possessed by more thanone device or article may alternatively be possessed by a singledevice/article.

The functionality and/or the features of a single device that isdescribed may be alternatively embodied by one or more other deviceswhich are described but are not explicitly described as having suchfunctionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include thedescribed device itself, but rather can include the one or more otherdevices which would, in those other embodiments, have suchfunctionality/features.

Numerous embodiments are described in this patent application, and arepresented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments arenot, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presentlydisclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, asis readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical,software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features ofthe disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understoodthat such features are not limited to usage in the one or moreparticular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they aredescribed, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The present disclosure is neither a literal description of allembodiments of the invention nor a listing of features of the inventionwhich must be present in all embodiments.

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of thispatent application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of thispatent application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scopeof the disclosed invention(s). An Abstract has been included in thisapplication merely because an Abstract of not more than 150 words isrequired under 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b).

The title of this patent application and headings of sections providedin this patent application are for convenience only, and are not to betaken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

Devices that are described as in communication with each other need notbe in continuous communication with each other, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit toeach other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with another machine via the Internet may not transmitdata to the other machine for long period of time (e.g. weeks at atime). In addition, devices that are in communication with each othermay communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features doesnot imply that all or even any of such components/features are required.On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the presentinvention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, nocomponent/feature is essential or required.

Although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described in asequential order, such processes may be configured to work in differentorders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may beexplicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirement thatthe steps be performed in that order. On the contrary, the steps ofprocesses described herein may be performed in any order practical.Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite beingdescribed or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because onestep is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of aprocess by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that theillustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modificationsthereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its stepsare necessary to the invention, and does not imply that the illustratedprocess is preferred.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps,that does not imply that all or any of the steps are essential orrequired. Various other embodiments within the scope of the describedinvention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of thedescribed steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step isessential or required.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality ofcomponents, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, thatdoes not indicate that all of the plurality are essential or required.Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s)include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality.

Unless expressly specified otherwise, an enumerated list of items (whichmay or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the itemsare mutually exclusive. Therefore it is possible, but not necessarilytrue, that something can be considered to be, or fit the definition of,two or more of the items in an enumerated list. Also, an item in theenumerated list can be a subset (a specific type of) of another item inthe enumerated list. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, alaptop, a PDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of thatlist are mutually exclusive—e.g., an item can be both a laptop and acomputer, and a “laptop” can be a subset of (a specific type of) a“computer”.

Likewise, unless expressly specified otherwise, an enumerated list ofitems (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or allof the items are collectively exhaustive or otherwise comprehensive ofany category. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, aPDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list arecomprehensive of any category.

Further, an enumerated listing of items does not imply that the itemsare ordered in any manner according to the order in which they areenumerated.

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which includes the phrase “meansfor” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6,applies to that limitation.

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which does not include the phrase“means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. §112,paragraph 6 does not apply to that limitation, regardless of whetherthat limitation recites a function without recitation of structure,material or acts for performing that function. For example, in a claim,the mere use of the phrase “step of” or the phrase “steps of” inreferring to one or more steps of the claim or of another claim does notmean that 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, applies to that step(s).

With respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, the correspondingstructure, material or acts described in the specification, andequivalents thereof, may perform additional functions as well as thespecified function.

Computers, processors, computing devices and like products arestructures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such productscan be operable to perform a specified function by executing one or moreprograms, such as a program stored in a memory device of that product orin a memory device which that product accesses. Unless expresslyspecified otherwise, such a program need not be based on any particularalgorithm, such as any particular algorithm that might be disclosed inthis patent application. It is well known to one of ordinary skill inthe art that a specified function may be implemented via differentalgorithms, and any of a number of different algorithms would be a meredesign choice for carrying out the specified function.

Therefore, with respect to a means or a step for performing a specifiedfunction in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, structurecorresponding to a specified function includes any product programmed toperform the specified function. Such structure includes programmedproducts which perform the function, regardless of whether such productis programmed with (i) a disclosed algorithm for performing thefunction, (ii) an algorithm that is similar to a disclosed algorithm, or(iii) a different algorithm for performing the function.

The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, anenabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some ofthese embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in this patentapplication, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuingapplications that claim the benefit of priority of this patentapplication. Applicants intend to file additional applications to pursuepatents for subject matter that has been disclosed and enabled but notclaimed in this patent application.

1. A system comprising: one or more servers hosting at least a portionof an online game environment; a game console in communication with theserver such that the online game environment is accessible to a playervia the game console; and a contracts database residing at least one ofthe one or more servers, wherein the contracts database includes datarelated to sponsorship contracts in the online game environment.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the contracts database includes data relatedto the creation of sponsorship contracts in the online game environment.3. The system of claim 1 wherein the contracts database includes datarelated to pending contracts.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein thecontracts database includes data related to active contracts.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4 wherein the contracts database includes the terms ofthe active contracts.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the contractsdatabase includes data related to expired contracts.
 7. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising a user-interface configured to allow theplayer to access at least some of the data in the contracts database. 8.The system of claim 5 wherein the terms of an active contract identify asponsor, a sponsoree, and at least one condition under which the sponsoris to be provided a benefit based on the sponsoree's performance in theonline game environment.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the systemincludes a benefit calculation module configured to identify when acondition has been met by the sponsoree and bestow a benefit to thesponsor.
 10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a player accountfor one or more players accessing the online game environment.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10 further comprising a player database including datarelated to the player accounts.
 12. The system of claim 10 wherein thedata includes information identifying whether the player associated withthe player account is eligible to enter into a sponsorship contract. 13.The system of claim 12 wherein the data includes information identifyingwhether the player associated with the player account is eligible toenter into a sponsorship contract as a sponsor.
 14. The system of claim12 wherein the data includes information identifying whether the playerassociated with the player account is eligible to enter into asponsorship contract as a sponsoree.
 15. The system of claim 13 whereinthe data identifies one or more prerequisite conditions that must be metby a player before the player is eligible to enter into a sponsorshipcontract as a sponsor, and whether or not the player has met theprerequisite conditions.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein one of theprerequisite conditions is payment of a fee.
 17. The system of claim 16wherein one of the prerequisite conditions is achieving a given resultin the online game environment.
 18. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising a contract value calculation module configured to calculatethe periodic value for a sponsorship contract over time.
 19. The systemof claim 1 further comprising a sponsorship contract market configuredto enable the players to buy and sell active sponsorship contracts. 20.The system of claim 18 further comprising an auction module configuredto receive bids from a plurality of players and award a sponsorshipcontract to the player who provides a winning bid.